LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Sonic Adventure
built 238 days ago
Gameplay wise, Sonic Adventure is an utterly amazing and ambitious action/platform that sets new standards in the genre, not to mention video gaming in general. Also, it has only a few flaws, probably caused by a rushed launch. One of the best aspects of the game itself is control, it is quite simply amazing that the Sonic Team has managed to deliver such a high level of controllability at such ridiculous speeds and very precise movements at slower speeds. The level design is ... fantastic and is extremely varied. Levels range from typically fast platform levels and free roaming platform stages filled with startling design and immersive environments to levels with racing elements such as snowboarding, sandboarding, and a bumper car speedway.
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One solid gameplay enhancement over the original Sonic Adventure is the inclusion of raising "chao," little creatures with a Pokemon-like appeal, which you can then transfer to your friends’ GameCubes using the Game Boy Advance. As you explore each level, you can find small creatures (pandas and kangaroos, among others) that you can take back with you to your chao "nursery" so your pets can adopt their personality traits. Although this has little affect on the game as a whole, it’s a nice diversion that adds a bit of personalized "next-gen" feel to what would otherwise be "tired and trite" gameplay.
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Although the original Sonic Adventure had awful voice acting, the game's plot was relatively intriguing, particularly when considering the genre. Each of the characters had his or her own unique motivations and as the intersecting cutscenes played out, the storylines for each individual character intertwined adequately to create a cohesive plot. The sequel is exactly the opposite, playing out more like a Bizarro version of the first game in terms of how the plot and presentation come together. The voice acting, and the lip-synching in particular, is executed quite well in Sonic Adventure 2, but throughout the game the plot becomes more and more scattered and lackluster. Just when the story show signs of reaching a resolution--for example, when the true identity of Shadow is revealed--it folds back onto itself and moves into an entirely different plotline, never reaching a true resolution. Unlike the original Sonic Adventure, which ends with the climactic battle against Chaos, the sequel finishes with a whimper.
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Sonic Adventure was originally meant to have a frame rate of 60 frames per second, no polygon tearing (jagged edges), and little to no pop-up. The December 23, 1998 launch of the Sega Dreamcast prevented the developers from achieving this, resulting in a max framerate of 30 FPS, noticeable polygon tearing, a lot of pop up, and frame rate drops, sometimes with extreme slowdown.
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The primary single-player mode in Sonic Adventure 2 Battle allows you to choose from two different quests: hero and dark. If you choose the hero quest, you'll play as Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails while trying to stop the sinister Dr. Eggman from taking over the world. In the dark quest, you'll play as a batgirl named Rouge, Dr. Eggman, or the dark form of Sonic, Shadow. The game consists of three primary gameplay types, and each type is represented equally throughout the game. Sonic and Shadow reprise the blistering speed levels from the first Sonic Adventure game, Tails and Dr. Eggman pilot mechs in simplistic shooting levels, and Knuckles and Rouge take part in scavenger hunts for lost Chaos emeralds. Normally, gameplay variety is a positive aspect of a game's design, but in Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, this isn't the case.
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In terms of depth and replayability, Sonic Adventure features six different characters to play as, each with its own distinctive feel and moves. For example, Tails can fly with his tail, Knuckles has a nifty fireball, and Amy uses her "love hammer" to pound enemies. On top of this, each of the quests are different in terms of story line, levels, mini-games, and level objectives resulting in amazing variety. The levels themselves are massive but due to the incredibly quick action and game speed, they can sometimes be completed fairly quickly. Apart from the general action and racing mini-games, the Sonic Team has ... implemented A-Life, the artificial intelligence first published in NiGHTS Into Dreams.... Players can also download their favorite Chao (the result of an A-Life egg hatching) to a VMS and take them on a quest where they can fight, eat, determine a number of options about the Chao, find treasure, complete journeys, and then be uploaded back into the game to compete in further competition.
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Sonic Adventure